The Western Australian government has passed legislation for the cage to be banned for all local MMA fights as of March 1, 2013.

The government announced its intentions midway through January 2013, and Minister for Sports Terry Waldron confirmed the decision after the Department of Sports and Recreation commissioners met with promoters to inform them of the new law change. The decision was based upon “image” concerns, not on fighter safety.

“We just don’t want to see cage fighting in Western Australia,” Premier Colin Barnett said. “It’s been a policy decision of the state government.